Narragansett Bay, R.I. – November 3, 1945

August 23, 2017

Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island – November 3, 1945

U.S. Navy F6F Hellcat
U.S. Navy photo

On November 3, 1945, Ensign Henry A. Clark was piloting an F6F-5 Hellcat, (Bu. No. 78639), from Floyd Bennet Naval Air Station in New York, to Squantum Naval Air Station in Massachusetts. As he was passing over Narragansett Bay the engine began cutting out resulting in loss of power and altitude. Ensign Clark made an emergency water landing about 3/4 of a mile southwest of the Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island. The aircraft sank, but Ensign Clark escaped without injury. The aircraft was salvaged on November 6.